14 April 2025

Russian forces launched a failed offensive near the village of Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region, deploying three tanks, 18 infantry fighting vehicles and MT-LBs, and 41 motorcycles in the assault.

Footage released by Ukraine’s 17th Poltava Brigade of the National Guard and Operational Command South showed the engagement, which reportedly lasted from morning until evening. Ukrainian forces responded swiftly and in coordination, successfully repelling the attack.

Units involved included the 17th National Guard Brigade, the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade, and the 3rd Battalion of the Separate Presidential Brigade.

Due to the accurate fire and timely response of the Ukrainian military, the enemy’s offensive was thwarted.

The Poltava Brigade reported destroying two infantry fighting vehicles and one MT-LB, killing at least six Russian soldiers and wounding eleven others.

According to the “Officer+” Telegram channel run by journalist Yuriy Butusov and the 31st Brigade’s unmanned systems unit, approximately 15–16 Russian armored vehicles were destroyed in total, along with most of the accompanying troops.

Nearly all the motorcyclists were eliminated. The remaining forces retreated.

Operational Command South identified the assaulting unit as Russia’s 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade. The attempted breakthrough was directed toward the village of Shevchenko.

The assault comes weeks after a similar failed Russian push in the same area on March 25.

In that incident, reconnaissance drones documented at least six Russian vehicles, some outfitted with improvised protection — including mesh screens, Kontakt-1 reactive armor, and electronic warfare devices.

Some vehicles were intercepted in urban areas, while others were hit in transit. Mines were planted along the route, although only the third device succeeded in stopping one of the tanks.

https://militarnyi.com/en/news/russian-assault-with-21-armored-vehicles-and-41-motorcycles-repelled-near-velyka-novosilka